Chinese interest in investing in Fonterra's shareholder fund was predictable once the scheme was approved and underlines the need for constitutional protections for the Trading Among Farmers scheme, Federated Farmers says.

China's sovereign wealth fund, the $US400 billion China Investment Corp, is in talks to buy units in the $525 million fund with an investment of less than $US100 million, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, citing people with direct knowledge of the plans.

The Fonterra fund aims to raise as much as $525 million selling units in an indicative price range of $4.60 to $5.50 apiece, giving outside investors exposure to up to 7% of the dairy co-operative's equity.

The final price will be set by a bookbuild among institutions and NZX firms on about November 27.

Fonterra says talks between joint lead managers for the offer and institutions are confidential. Approaches have been made to institutional investors in New Zealand, Australia and certain other overseas jurisdictions in Asia and Europe, it says in a statement.

"Until the bookbuild process has been completed, it is impossible to know what any institution's ultimate intention might be."

Unit holders will get the rights to Fonterra's share dividends without owning the shares.

The change will take share redemption risk off Fonterra's own books, which has billowed to more than $700 million in recent years, by giving farmers a venue and the liquidity to trade the shares among themselves.

CIC usually does not take a controlling role, or seek to influence operations, in the companies in which it invests, according to its website.

(BusinessDesk)

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Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that those who have already put in their orders cannot possibly purchase in the numbers they hope for.
Also-farmers and "Friends of Fonterra" have until next Wednesday to place, and expect, their orders.

Hardly racism. Unless someone is stirring. The Mr/Ms anonymous people do a lot of that

Soooooo!! Well we are not at all surprised about this I am sure.. And as we have already heard that brokers will not be able to supply their clients' orders and that those orders will be massively cut back China doesn't really have a show at getting what has been suggested.

The Chairman and Board at Fonterra will have to maintain each and every promise and stand by each and every reassurance given to the dairy farmers.Stand tall Harry , then John. Stand tall.

Imagine what the farmers would say--- and WILL be saying in the near future.

NZ can ill afford to give further dividends away to overseas interests, when it has a $14 billion per annum deficit with investment revenue already.

Farmers have been feed a lie on this TAF scheme. This has but openned the door to more dilution of their control over this company. And they can thank Ven der Heyden and his cronies for it. The greed of a few, at the expense of the majority.